1. If You Call It Frisco Or San Fran, People Will Call You A Tool
San Franciscans do not like it when their city is called, “San Fran.” Just reading that now made us shudder. “Frisco” is even worse. Stick to plain ol’ San Francisco, SF, or The City.
2. Mission-Style Burritos Are The Greatest Thing That Has Ever Happened
If there’s one word that will make most San Franciscans salivate on command, it’s this one: burrito.
While it’s tough to pinpoint just which place serves the best one, you can bet that the Mission will give you plenty of options to taste. For starters, there’s the often-praised carne asada super burrito at La Taqueria.
3. You Will Develop Calves Of Steel Living In SF
San Francisco is a pedestrian city. San Franciscans like to pound the pavement—it helps that the views are so nice—but that means that they’re up for the challenge of soaring hills. Once you’ve lifted your groceries up an incline, you’re in the club.
4. Living In San Francisco Is Great—But You’ll Pay For The Honor
Rent: let’s just get it out in the open. It’s a lot. At first, it sounds like an unreal amount, and it definitely skews your idea of real estate from this point forward.
If you need a shoulder, go to anyone else in almost any other neighborhood. We all feel your pain.
5. But It’s Totally Worth It
I mean, just look at it!
The city may only be as big as 49 square miles, but it’s home to many diverse neighborhoods: the Castro, North Beach, Chinatown, the Tenderloin, the Mission, Russian Hill, the list goes on.
Rent can be tough, but on the bright side, there’s always something to see, something to do, plenty to eat, and people to meet.
6. Earthquakes Will Barely Phase You
Sure, SF was practically leveled once by an earthquake, but that won’t scare off San Franciscans. And yes the “big one” still looms but mostly its just little quakes that hardly send us into hysterics
Still, you should know what to do during an earthquake, and have your preparedness kit near by, just in case.
7. San Francisco Fans Have “Giant” Hearts
You may not know the latest stats, and you may have trouble recalling every first and last name on the roster, but your heart belongs to the Giants. You wear your jersey with pride, and you eat garlic fries at the stadium like a champ.
If you were cool with kayaking in the bay outside the stadium, you’d do that, too. Why? Like all the other die-hard fans in this city, you love this team.
8. And San Franciscans Ride Or Die For The 49ers
The 49ers may technically have moved to Santa Clara in the Levi’s Stadium, but they will always be the San Francisco in the hearts and minds of people in SF. The fans here are passionate about thier boys in red and gold. And if they happened to be around in the Joe Montana years fuggedaboutit, they bleed red and gold.
9. The Sourdough Bread. OMG!
You’ve probably heard that San Francisco has the best sourdough bread in the world. Well folks, believe the hype. And be sure to fill that bread with some delicious fresh clam chowder. Yum.
10. Gay Pride Is The Mardi Gras Of San Francisco
San Francisco has long had a history of one of the most tolerant, accepting and vibrant communities. So its really know surprise that when June aka Pride season rolls around, this city comes to life! The streets fill with celebrations, and the nightlife is phenomenal. Pretty much the Mardi Gras of the West Coast.
11. Folks In San Francisco Have A Love/Hate Relationship With Muni
The most cost effective way to get around the city is Muni, so everyone rides it despite its… ahem… quirks. For instance it’s notoriously late. Don’t be surprised to wait a long while if you accidentally miss your bus.
Sure there are other forms of transportation—cable cars and BART come to mind—but to get across downtown nothing beats the Muni.
12. So Much Adventure Awaits In Golden Gate Park
The weather may be fickle in Golden Gate Park, but a visit is always worth it. Encompassing a rectangle portion of the city that’s larger than Central Park in New York City, Golden Gate Park features a Japanese tea garden, a fine art museum, a science museum, and many other attractions.
But sometimes, a simple walk here is all you need for a perfect afternoon.
13. Seeing Naked Folks Strolling Down The Street Will Cease To Shock You
If you’re at all prudish about the naked body, you may wish to steer clear of the Castro. There will be naked people there. The rest of SF shrugs and calls it just another day, and before you know it, you will, too.
14. Capture The SF Spirit With A Brew And A Burger At Zeitgeist
The best beer garden in town belongs to Zeitgiest. Renoowned for its stellar Bloody Marys and burgers, this local watering hole is a fantastic way to spend a warm summer afternoon with friends… which will no doubt stretch into the evening.
15. And The Next Morning Here’s Your Hangover Cure
You can’t go wrong with a cup of Irish coffee at the Buena Vista in the morning.
16. Everyone Here Has An Extensive and Impressive Sweater Collection
If you didn't dress in light layers before, you will now. SF’s spot between the bay and the ocean makes for cool temperatures, and fog can roll in quickly. While we are weirdly affectionate about it—after all, its nickname is Karl the Fog—it’s not easy to go through our notoriously gray summers.
Thankfully, our autumns have plenty of warm days with blue skies.
17. Driving Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
Finding a free parking spot. Paying for parking. That split-second when your car rolls backward at a stop sign, or when you can’t see over the top of your hood. And—gasp—the thought of parallel parking on a hill with only centimeters separating bumpers. These are just some of the reasons why having a car here is a luxury and a curse.
18. San Franciscans Are An Opinionated Group And They Aren’t Afraid To Share Them
It isn’t just a stereotype: San Franciscans want to be informed about the happenings in their city, and they’re not afraid to discuss it. So, when it comes to topics like startups, gentrification, or rent it’s all right to have an opinion. And it’s even better to vocalize it.
19. Get The Best Views Of SF Hiking At Land’s End
While you could call the stairs on the city’s hills hikes in themselves, there are numerous natural hiking trails that are worth the extra exercise.
Land’s End is a popular pick for its beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
20. There’s No Better Place To Lounge A Sunny SF Day Away Than Dolores Park
Always try to make the most of a sunny day in the city. Most people take that to mean a visit to the park, and there are many others besides Golden Gate Park.
The Mission’s Dolores Park is synonymous with this activity, but there’s always the classic view of the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square Park or the tucked-away feeling of Sutro Heights Park.
21. Your Most Important Wardrobe Choice Of The Year Is For Bay to Breakers
Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace in the city—and the oldest of its kind in the world, since it began in 1912—that’s also a great excuse for you to let your freak flag fly. Some participants dress up in costumes, or lack thereof (again, nudity everywhwere), and set out on a 12K through the city.
22. Locals Are Happy To Leave Fisherman’s Wharf And Pier 39 To The Tourists
Ask a San Franciscan when he or she last visited Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, and they’ll probably think really hard, grimace, and then say it was with out-of-towners.
While clam chowder in bread bowls sounds tasty, it’s just not a place we’d choose to visit.
23. Alcatraz On The Other Hand Is A Rite Of Passage
If any local site is worth braving the packs of tourists, it’s this historic hoosegow on the sea.
24. The Beauty Of The Bridges Will Get You Every Time
Maybe the best thing about looking down the slope of a hill on a walk, or passing by streets on public transit, is getting a glimpse of a bridge. Whether you quickly catch the sheen of the Golden Gate, or see the fancy new Bay Bridge illuminated in a flash, the views of the bridges are always stunning—even at a glance.
If you want to see the Golden Gate in all its majesty, head to Baker Beach.
25. You Really Will Leave Your Heart In San Francisco
From the homeless dude that gives you a high-five because he sees you every day, to the farmer’s market vendor who is selling the utmost in organic produce, back to the Russian Hill socialite who goes to dinner in jewels, to the cash-strapped dreamer with an idea for a start-up: everything goes in this city.
You’ll find it crazy at times, but you’ll fall in love with San Francisco, too.
What’s something you learned living in San Francisco? Tell us in the comments below! 
